Kʼatun

In today's world, Kʼatun is a topic of constant interest and covers a wide range of aspects. From its influence on society to its implications on the global economy, Kʼatun has become a focal point in everyday conversations. With an impact that transcends borders and cultures, Kʼatun has positioned itself as a relevant and constantly evolving topic. In this article, we will explore different perspectives and approaches related to Kʼatun, with the aim of understanding its importance in the current context and its projection for the future.

A kʼatun (/ˈkɑːtuːn/,[1] Mayan pronunciation: [kʼaˈtun]) is a unit of time in the Maya calendar equal to 20 tuns or 7200 days, equivalent to 19.713 tropical years. It is the second digit on the normal Maya long count date. For example, in the Maya Long Count date 12.19.13.15.12 (December 5, 2006), the number 19 is the kʼatun. There are 20 k'atuns in a baktun.

The end of a kʼatun was marked by numerous ceremonies and, at Tikal, the construction of large twin pyramid complexes to host them.[2] The kʼatun was also used to reckon the age of rulers. Those who lived to see four (or five) kʼatuns would take the title 4-(or 5-)kʼatun ruler.[3] In the Postclassic period when the full Long Count gave way to the Short Count, the Maya continued to keep a reckoning of kʼatuns, differentiating them by the Calendar Round date on which they began. Each kʼatun had its own set of prophecies and associations.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ "katun". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  2. ^ Martin & Grube 2000, p. 51
  3. ^ Coe 1992, p. 180
  4. ^ Schele & Freidel 1990, p. 400

References


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